Cable grip



H. Eg PAG im, 2, mg

CABLE GRIP Filed July 7. 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ct. 2, 1928(l H. E. PAGE CABLE GRIP 2 .Sheets-SheetI 2 Filed July 7. 1927 i 1,686,250 oFFl-fcs.

HERBERT E. PAGE, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

@ABLE GRIP.

vApplicatian med July 7,

This invention relatesto a cablel gri .of the expansible and contractile type 1n W ich the strands are diagonally interlaced or woven to form an open mesh capable of oo ntracting radially when extended lengthwlse and of expanding radially when contracted lengthwise. l

- Grips of this character are extensively used in drawing electric cables through overhead supporting rings or loops and also through underground conduits and are usually provided at one end with a single draft eye adapted to be attached to a winch cable or equivalent connection whereby when the grip is slipped over the cable the draft upon the winch cord will tighten the grip upon the cable suiiiciently to draw the latter through the rings or conduits as the cord is wound upon the winch.

Under these conditions, it is necessary to bunch one end of all of the strands together at one side of the axis of the flexible grip resulting in more or less deformation and excessive strains upon portions of the strands adjacent the draft eye.

`One of the objects of the present invention is to distribute these connections and strains more evenly and symmetrically around the axis of the flexible grip by bunching together the draft ends of substantially equal numbers of strands in separate branches and attaching these branches in uniformly spaced relation to the draft device and thereby to avoid the deformation of the strands and at the same time to cause the several strands to bear substantially the same strains.

Another object is to provide the draft device with a single eye or hook arranged intermediate the sockets in which the branches are secured.

.A further object is to provide means for protecting the ends of the strands opposite the draft end against loosening or unraveling and at the same time to enable those ends to bey grasped in the hand for endwise compression of the grip when desired without liability of injuring the hands and also to facilitate the endwise movement of the cable through its supporting rings or conduits with less liability of interference with obstructions in its path of movement.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the cable grip will be brought out in the following description.

' In the drawings:

Figure -1 is. a rface view, partly broken 1927. serial uo. 203,969.

away, of a split cable grip embodying preferred forms of my invention'.

l Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly broken away, taken in the plane of line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an endview of the detached i draft head.

Figure el is a ldetail sectional view takenv in the plane of line 4-4, Figure 3, showing one branch of the flexible strands in operanlivedposition in one of the sockets of the draft Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a flexible cable grip with a slightly modified form of draft head' having a tswiveleol draft eye adapted to be used more articularl the cable. y

Figure 6 is a face view, partly broken away, of another modified form of cable grip in which the strands are looped around pins on the draft head andthe opposite ends of for engagement with the end of `the strands are interwoven with each other to form closed loops. Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of line 7-7, Figure2.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectlonal view taken in the plane of line 8 8, Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of line 9-9, Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of line 10-10, Figure 2.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and Figures 7 and 9 comprises a iexible extensible and contractile gripping unit -1- composed of strands of wire diagonally interlaced or interwoven with each other to form an open mesh of tubular construction which is divided through one side to enable it to be placed sidewise over and upon any intermediate or other part of a cable a's A or other object, the meeting edges at the lengthwise division being coupled together by bendable tie members --Qf-.

The strands at one end of'the flexible grip -1- are Preferably divided into a plurality of separate branches -3- with a substantially equal number of strands in each branch and the branches symmetrically arranged uniform distances apart circumferentially about the axis of the flexible unit -1-.

As illustrated, I have shown the draft ends of the strands as divided into two branches arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the flexible unit 1- but inv somel instances I may prefer to divide these strands into a greater number of branches Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

A draft head llis provided with a number of socketed members'-5- corresponding to the number of branches -3- of Fthe grip strands, in this instancetwo, arranged in uniformlyspaced relation` circumferentially and in thisinstance at opposite sides of the axisof the flexible unit `1, said members being provided with sockets -5- having their forward ends elongated circumferentially for receiving their respective strand branches `-3--.

The ends of the strands of each branch are spread apart in the elongated ends of the sockets --5- and held in spaced relation' by the interposition of solder as cz- Figure 4, or equivalent wedging means which serve to hold the strands of each of the branches and draft headagainst relative endwise displacement. 4

'The main body as 4 of the draft head -4- between the socketed members --5--l is preferably concavo-convex in cross section to hold the socketed members -5- in suiliciently spaced relation to permit the cable -A- to pass between said members. and vto allow the lnner concave face of the main body -lto rest against the peripher of the adjacent side of the cable when the is engaged therewith.

The intermediate portion of the main body -4- is provided with an outwardly extendin draft-eye or hook -6- united thereto su stantially midwaybetwcen the ends thereof and having its open side -4- facing rearwardly for rece1vi11g a winch cord or other draft device by which the flexible unit -1- with ,the cable -A therein may be readily drawn through overhead supporting rings or underground conduits.

vThe open side of the draft head 4.- is alined with the split side of the flexible unit -1- to enable the entire gripping devicey to be placed sidewise over and upon any portion of said cable.

Thefdraft head -4- is also'provided with an additional strand gripping section 7 having thimbles -8- at one end adjacent the section f1- and its other end divided into opposite sets of hendable arms -9- terminating into bendable clasps or clips -10- which when adjusted for use embrace the crossing portions of the adjacent strands some distance rearwardly from the head section -4- or at approximately the junctions of the several branches with the main body of the flexible unit -1 for the .purpose of reducing the wear of the strands at said junctions as the gripping'device as a whole is drawn through overhead rings or underground conduits.

It is, of course, understood that in placing the gripping device sidewise over 'and upon any portion of the cable the tie members 2 willl necessarily be removed but may be replaced after the gripping device has been placed inoperative position upon the cable or may be retained in place when the gripping device'is used to slipover the end of the cable.l

In the usual` method of `weaving the flexible units -.'1 the ends of the adjacent strands opposite the head -4- are. usually twisted together leaving the edges of the wires unprotected and vprotruding more or. less promiscuously in various directions to such an extent as to interfere with the'free endwise movement ofthe gripping device on lthe cable through conduits or other supports and also being more or less liable to injure the hands When contracting the flexible unit endwise and in order to overcome these difficulties the rear'ends of adjacent strands are connected together 'by bendable metal tubular loops -11- into which the ends of the strands are inserted and secured b soldering'or equivalent fastening means or permanentlyholding the loops upon the endsof the strands.

In some instances, however, the rear ends of the wires of adjacent strands may be interwoven with each other to form loops as --11- as shown in Figure 6. 1

In Figures '5' and 8 is shown afiexible unit as--l-` which is tubular and undivided longi'tudinally to be slipped over and upon the end of a cable as A, the front ends of the strands being hunched together and secured in av centrally socketed head"-8- having its rear end'provided withv a circumferential series of separate arms -9.'-- which terminate in clasps -10-, similar to the arms and clasps .-9.'- and -10- shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that they extend entirely around v the axis of the flexible unit -1- in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially.

The head -8- land its larms -9- as shown in Figures 5 and 8 are made as a unit, the hunched ends of the strands being soldered or otherwise secured to and within the socketed member -8- while the clasps 10iembrace the strands some distance rearwardly from the hunched ends where they cross each other and may be soldered or otherwise secured to the strands at the crossings, if necessary.

The head -8- is provided'with a vdraft eye -6-` swiveled therein to permit relative angular adjustment of the winch cord and gripping device. 4

i In Figures 6 and 9 is shown a tubular flexible unit l2- similar to the unit -1- in that it is vundivided longitudinally but the front ends of they strands are continuous and bent into the vform of loops -13- for connection with the rear end of a one-piece head 14.

The rear end of this head 14- is tubular and of suliicient interior diameter to permit. the passages of the cable as A, endwise therethrough, and is also provided with a series of i-se sockets l5-'- extending forwardly from its rear end face and arranged in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially for receiving the loops-13+ on/ the adjacent end of the flexible unit '-12'.

When the loops -13- are inserted in their respective sockets -15- they are locked in this position by radial pins -16- which are passed through registering openings vin the inner and outer walls of the slotsl--land also throughithe-open loops -13- as shown more clearly in Figure 9 thereby firmly holding the head -14- and flexible unit l2- in operative connection one with the other.

One side of the head 111- in front of the tubular rear end as -14- is cut away diagonally acrossv the axis of said tubular end thereby forming an opening therethrough for the reception of the adjacent portion of. the cable -A-, the opposite side of themev duced end of the head -4- being provided with a draft hook "4- similar to that shown in Figure 1.

A Operation. v When the meeting edges of the exible unit -1-', Figures 1 to\4 inclusive, are connected by the tie members -2-, said unit may be compressed endwise to enlarge its diameter landthen slipped over the end of the cable -A-for other object tov bev transported whereu on the operating device connected to the dra t hook 6- w1ll operate to extend the flexible unit and thereby to reduce its diameter for frictional engagement with the cable in the act of drawing the latter for.- wardly.

On the other hand, if it is desired to attachg the gripping device to an intermediate portion of the cable a considerable distance beyond either end, the tie members -2- may be removed and the meeting edges of said units spread apart a suflicient distance to permit it to be placed sidewise over and upon the cable, it being understood that during this operation the flexible unit -1- will be compressed endwise and that as soon as power is applied to the draft hook -'6- to raw the same forwardly the-flexible unit -1- will'be contracted radially into frictional holding engagement with the periph'- ery of the cable..

-What I claim is 1. In acable grip having diagonally interwoven strands separated at one -end into branches and the strands of each branch hunched together, and a draft head having spaced attaching members tightly embracing the bur ched strands of said branches.

2. In a" cable grip, a series of wire strands crossing each other diagonally and separated at one end into branches and the strands of each branch hunched together, and separate thimbles embracing said branches, each thimble having a plurality of axially extending armsand each arm provided with a clip embracing a plurality of the strands some distance from the nipples.

3. In a cable grip having diagonally interwoven strands, and a draft head having a plurality of socketedmembers integral therewith,

each socketed member having a plurality of strands secured therein.

4. In a cable grip having diagonally interwoven strands divided at vone end into a plurality -ofbranches, each branch having a plurality. of strands, and a drafthead having a plurality of integral socketed members in which the branches are secured.

5. In a cable grip, a series of wire strands crossing each other diagonally and bunched together at one end to form a plurality of branches, each branch including a plurality of strands, a draft head having a plurality of socketedmembers in which the branches are secured and se arate thimbles embracin said branches adjacent the head, each thim e having a plurality of arms, each embracing a plurality of strands some distance from the head.

-6. In a cable grip, an expansible and contractile unit composed of wire strands interwoven with each other about a common axis,-

tractile unit composed of wire strands inter.

woven with each other about a common axis, and a draft head having a plurality of socketed members in spaced relation about said axisfand each embracing a plurality of strands, lsaid draft head having a draft eye substantially midway between the socketedQlO end members. v

8. In a cable grip, an expansible a d con- -tractile unit composed of wire stran s interwoven with each other about a common axis,

` and a draft head secured to one end of the strands and provided with a single draft eye offset tov one side of said axis.

"9. In a cable griphaving interwoven wire strands, a draft head having inte al laterally spaced socketed members eac embracing some of the strands,'.said head having a .draft eye'in a plane midway between and at one side of saidmembers.

10. In a cable grip having diagonally interwoven strands divided atone end into a plurality of branches, separate thimbles embracing said branches and each provided with a plurality of arms, each embracing a'plurality of strands.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of July, 1927.

' l HERBERT E. PAGE. 

